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Onycholysis caused by Candida krusei.
1Department of Microbiology, BLDEA's Shri BM Patil Medical College, Bijapur - 586 103, Karnataka, India.
Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
|July 24, 2007
Summary
Candida krusei rarely causes onycholysis, leading to nail changes. This case highlights resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin-B, with successful treatment using clotrimazole and terbinafine.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Dermatology
- Clinical Case Study
Background:
- Onycholysis, or nail plate separation from the bed, is infrequently associated with fungal infections.
- Candida krusei is an opportunistic yeast with emerging antifungal resistance, rarely implicated in onycholysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of onycholysis caused by Candida krusei in a young adult male.
- To document the diagnostic process and treatment outcomes for this unusual fungal nail infection.
Main Methods:
- Clinical presentation of grayish nail discoloration and elevation.
- Potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation of subungual debris to identify fungal elements.
- Culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar and identification of Candida krusei via morphological and biochemical testing.
- Antifungal susceptibility testing to guide treatment.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with refractory onycholysis unresponsive to fluconazole.
- Identification confirmed Candida krusei, exhibiting resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin-B.
- The isolate was susceptible to nystatin and clotrimazole.
Conclusions:
- Candida krusei can cause onycholysis, even in immunocompetent individuals.
- Antifungal resistance patterns in Candida krusei necessitate susceptibility testing for effective treatment.
- Combination therapy with clotrimazole and terbinafine proved effective in this challenging case.
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